Britain’s defence minister, John Healey, warned on Wednesday that the UK is ready to respond with “military options” if the Russian intelligence-gathering ship Yantar poses a danger, after the

vessel reportedly aimed lasers at Royal Air Force pilots who were sent to keep an eye on it.

The Royal Navy and RAF regularly track aircraft and ships that could threaten the UK, but these encounters have become more frequent since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Yantar, which has been operating off Scotland’s northern coast, is one of several Russian vessels that the UK has monitored closely in recent months.

Healey made the remarks during a speech in Downing Street, where he emphasized that Britain’s defence industry and armed forces are prepared to respond to any escalation. Photo by Mil.ru, Wikimedia commons.